Does FestoolUSAs delayed new product, effect your buying plans

[GPowers]

What is with FestoolUSa new product releases running 12 to 18 months behind other parts of the world. This policy, limitation, or what ever it is greatly effect my purchases. I was buying several Festool decides (Domino, TS55, ETS 150/5, and the OF1400) and started to hear about all the new things that were available elsewhere in the worls. So I decided to stop buying  tools and started waiting for the new drill, jigsaw and 90mm Rotex. Should have waited for the new CT26 too.

This is got to hurt FsetoolUSA sales and bottom line. Because I'm not the only one who is delaying the purchase of tools. There is got to be a lot of people out there that are waiting.

I have bought a few items that were part of the 10% off sale, like the Parallel Guide set,  and a 3000mm Guide rail even the sanding block set. But for the majority of my purchases i'm going to wait for the new tools!  ???

 

[Frank Pellow]

Yes.  I needed a new jigsaw, but I decided to wait until the Carvex becomes available in Canada.

 

[harry_]

I use my tools professionally, so for me it does & it doesn't.... currently a blessing and a curse.

If I need to have a new/different tool in order to make a job cost effective to me on the labor end, I just find a way to `sneak` it into the cost of the job and then buy it, same as if it were lumber. Things for me are lean right now, so on a per job basis more of my `profit` goes to cover `overhead`. As a result these delays are a blessing, for "I do not want what I cannot have".

Now if I was swimming in work, I would obviously feel differently. The though of having the need to run out and buying , with the knowledge of `new & improved` coming out shortly thereafter would surely tick me off!

If I were a hobbyist, not sure how I would feel [scratch chin]

 

[Corwin]

Hmmm, I think that life is too short to be waiting on the latest from Festool.  I'd just get the tools available now that you want -- well, except those new Carvex jigsaws, as they do look like something worth waiting for.    [wink]

My guess is that there are probably a few reasons that some tools are either not available or their release is delayed here in North American markets:

• UL certification -- time and money...
• different voltage electronics/motors/wiring
• sufficient inventory to release product(s) in each market

There is also the price aspect.  New models of existing products may also come with a higher price tag, making the older model more affordable.  The reviews of new models or products available in Europe can be very helpful in deciding if you want to wait on your purchases or just get the products available now.

 

[Sean7a]

What is with FestoolUSa new product releases running 12 to 18 months behind other parts of the world. This policy, limitation, or what ever it is greatly effect my purchases. I was buying several Festool decides (Domino, TS55, ETS 150/5, and the OF1400) and started to hear about all the new things that were available elsewhere in the worls. So I decided to stop buying  tools and started waiting for the new drill, jigsaw and 90mm Rotex. Should have waited for the new CT26 too.

This is got to hurt FsetoolUSA sales and bottom line. Because I'm not the only one who is delaying the purchase of tools. There is got to be a lot of people out there that are waiting.

I have bought a few items that were part of the 10% off sale, like the Parallel Guide set,  and a 3000mm Guide rail even the sanding block set. But for the majority of my purchases i'm going to wait for the new tools!  ???

There are reasons items are delayed aside from just good decision making (the US market is worlds different than any other Fes operates in).  Corwin pointed out a lot of the reasons for delay.

Like someone else said, life is too short to wait and get worked up over waiting on a product.  Trust me, I've been there.  I used to race mountain bikes for years and it was a never ending vicious cycle, waiting for the latest and greatest every product year.  Finally one day it clicks, and you realize, sure x% is the product, and the rest is your attitude, positivity and just general attitude.  Don't let it get to ya!  Buy what you need and if something new comes out and you deem it worthwhile to spend the money on just flip your tool on ebay or an online marketplace.  One of the beauty's of Fes, as we've all come to know being a part of this community, is their wonderful resale value.

Something else to think of too.  This forum is an extremely small snapshot of the US and world market.  When you say that a lot of guys out there are holding off on a purchase, it may seem like a lot because of whom we all congregate with here, in our virtual community, but at the end of the day your average Joe walking "into" an online store like Bob's, Tom's, Amazon or mine....or into a brick and mortar store like I have, has no clue what is due to arrive.  You guys are the educated, die hard few, don't think the rest of the tool community and Fes community is as engrossed, enthusiastic and such awesome supporters and as knowledgeable about the line as you guys all are.

 

[Bob Marino]

Greg,

I hear you, but agree with Corwin regarding the delay in introducing new tools to the USA and would also echo Sean's comments, especially about the FOG (particularly the posters) being a very small (but aware/educated) sample of Fetool's market.
But, remember that Festool has only been selling their products in the USA for about 10 years; we are a very new, but important market for them. IMHO, as the Festool USA market continues to expand, there will be a day when products get here before they are introduced to other markets.

Bob

 

[jonny round boy]

Greg,

I hear you, but agree with Corwin regarding the delay in introducing new tools to the USA and would also echo Sean's comments, especially about the FOG (particularly the posters) being a very small (but aware/educated) sample of Fetool's market.
But, remember that Festool has only been selling their products in the USA for about 10 years; we are a very new, but important market for them. IMHO, as the Festool USA market continues to expand, there will be a day when products get here before they are introduced to other markets.

Bob

Nooooooo!!!!!!!!

Not gonna happen - we simply won't allow it. [tongue]

 

[ajones]

There's only one way that would happen and that is festool being bought by dewalt or another American tool company [scared]

 

[Bob Marino]

There's only one way that would happen and that is festool being bought by dewalt or another American tool company [scared]

One of the reasons Festool can maintain its' high level of quality is because it is a family owned company, not a publicly owned company, or even privately owned, so they more less likey to suffer the same fate - being bought and sold like so many other companies have been in the last so many years.
Having said this, and my initial comment about the USA becoming such a huge market that Festool will offer some tools here first, that is only my opinion, not based on any "inside" info from Festool.
  Bob

 

[Frank Pellow]

There's only one way that would happen and that is festool being bought by dewalt or another American tool company [scared]

One of the reasons Festool can maintain its' high level of quality is because it is a family owned company, not a publicly owned company, or even privately owned, so they more less likely to suffer the same fate - being bought and sold like so many other companies have been in the last so many years.
Having said this, and my initial comment about the USA becoming such a huge market that Festool will offer some tools here first, that is only my opinion, not based on any "inside" info from Festool.
  Bob

Good observation Bob, and I certainly hope that the family holds on and does not "sell out" like so many other family owned companies have done. 

But, I very much doubt that the US (with Canada in tow  [sad] as an afterthought), will ever become a big enough market to get any tools first -unless, perhaps, it is tool aimed specifically at the North American market.

 

[ccmviking]

Frank,

Do you mean they'll have to start manufacturing in China and selling at a fraction of their current cost?    ;D
[/quote]

But, I very much doubt that the US (with Canada in tow  [sad] as an afterthought), will ever become a big enough market to get any tools first -unless, perhaps, it is tool aimed specifically at the North American market.
[/quote]

 

[GPowers]

IMHO, as the Festool USA market continues to expand, there will be a day when products get here before they are introduced to other markets.

This would be great! Wish it would happen sooner then later.  The delayed releases must also hurt the dealers, like you. I would be buying tools now buy have delayed until the new stuff is out.

 

[nickao]

The US can become a bigger and even Festools biggest market if Festool so desired. I thought I read somewhere that Festool sold more Dominoes in a month in the US then they sold altogether in Europe since it came out. Possibly that article was hogwash, who knows.

Anyway, I would not wait unless there was a definite date laid out by Festool and it was closer than 6 months.

Look at this article from Dec 2006 and we are still waiting(not that I would buy it):

http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/editorsblog/Festools+Table+Saws+Foreign+Country+Foreign+Tools.aspx

 

[harry_]

I find this interesting. I have seen here on the FOG time and again commentary on "North America being a small market". Now call me stupid, naive, ignorant. Hell, call me the village idiot for all I care. I cannot see how NA even remotely resembles a `small market`!

Now maybe it is a small market to Festool, won't deny that. Actually that would be an understatement of the patently obvious. But it would be a small market for every foreign car manufacturer here if they too only sold 1/2 their product line here!

Apparently they have a very dark type of wool in Germany. Remember, German auto manufactures were the LAST to get cup holders into a car because they couldn't see the need. Go figure.

Yeah, yeah, you can pass the buck to UL. Quite honestly, I don't subscribe to that one either. I'll read it, just dont sign me up for a subscription. I know that getting UL approval can be a real dog. There is no doubt about it. It can be a tough nut to crack, but it CAN be cracked. However, all of us here on this side of the pond have seen countless items of abhorrent quality and questionable safety with a UL sticker on it. I understand liability issues as well. I once worked for a company where if we were to toss a power tool in the dumpster, we were required as a matter of company policy to cut the cord off and introduce it to Mr. Sledgehammer. Apparently someone won a case after dumpster diving........damn laywers!

Festool is obviously not a `numbers driven` company. I say that in the WalMart sense. To me this is a good wonderful thing!
I can remember growing up (I am 45) winding up (literally) the lawnmower. That thing had 15+ years on it before I was old enough to be allowed to push it. Solidly built! Eventually it gave up the ghost, but only because replace became obsolete. The next mower lasted 2 years... dead. dead. dead. cost more to fix it than to replace it!... walmart mentality! I have some craftsman power tools lying about that were my dad's, that I know are as old or older than I am that still work. I don't use use them for nostalgic reasons mostly (that & the circular saw feels like it weighs 30 pounds). ........

One could say "well if we built a circular saw like that we could never sell you another". True. but a saw build with "planned obsolescence" might prevent me from buying ANYTHING you make when it dies a week out of warranty. When I buy something while having the (rare) thought of this is that last one I will ever NEED to buy. You have stuck the branding needle in my arm or if you prefer, made me a pitcher of kool-aid. Nope, wont buy another circular saw, but I bet I'll buy you , and again, and again. Better yet, my kids probably will too. Guys can you remember when the brand name Craftsman actually had a good meaning. Sure they never actually built anything them selves, it was just badging. But it was badging UP, not badging down.

I think that slowly the NA market is beginning to see the errs of our walmart ways. I know of countless contractors on their Nth . And I DO realise that professional users are tough(er) on their hardware. Even if we were not actually harder, as compared to the hobbyist it becomes that way by usage volume.

Festool, we cannot buy what you do not offer us. It is that simple. Even if you are not going to `market to us`, you COULD still make (certain) things available to us via your vast dealer network. Is anyone going to dare to say that Festool has stopped making metric centrotec drill bits? No. they have stopped making them available in NA.

Sorry, I am  [off topic], [dead horse] and ranting.

The village idiot will shut up now

 

[RONWEN]

I use my tools professionally, so for me it does & it doesn't.... currently a blessing and a curse.

If I need to have a new/different tool in order to make a job cost effective to me on the labor end, I just find a way to `sneak` it into the cost of the job and then buy it, same as if it were lumber. Things for me are lean right now, so on a per job basis more of my `profit` goes to cover `overhead`. As a result these delays are a blessing, for "I do not want what I cannot have".

Now if I was swimming in work, I would obviously feel differently. The though of having the need to run out and buying , with the knowledge of `new & improved` coming out shortly thereafter would surely tick me off!

If I were a hobbyist, not sure how I would feel [scratch chin]

Hmmm, Does that mean that you then leave the tool at the job site when the work is completed?    [blink]

As Corwin says, life is too short to wait an extended period of time to buy/use tools.  As far as the Carvex goes. it looks great but as infrequently as I use a jig saw my Bosch barrel grip suits my purposes just fine.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I believe the OF2200 router was released here first or at the same time as the rest of the world.  I think I remember someone mentioned it was mainly aimed at the solid surface industry here in N. America so it makes sense it would be released here first.

 

[harry_]

I use my tools professionally, so for me it does & it doesn't.... currently a blessing and a curse.

If I need to have a new/different tool in order to make a job cost effective to me on the labor end, I just find a way to `sneak` it into the cost of the job and then buy it, same as if it were lumber. Things for me are lean right now, so on a per job basis more of my `profit` goes to cover `overhead`. As a result these delays are a blessing, for "I do not want what I cannot have".

Now if I was swimming in work, I would obviously feel differently. The though of having the need to run out and buying , with the knowledge of `new & improved` coming out shortly thereafter would surely tick me off!

If I were a hobbyist, not sure how I would feel [scratch chin]

Hmmm, Does that mean that you then leave the tool at the job site when the work is completed?    [blink]

As Corwin says, life is too short to wait an extended period of time to buy/use tools.  As far as the Carvex goes. it looks great but as infrequently as I use a jig saw my Bosch barrel grip suits my purposes just fine.

No it means that: if (domino cost - labor cost savings = 0) then Harry gets domino and customer pays same price. No point giving them a tool they wont know how to use  [tongue]